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Daily Buzz: Former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand earns his degree

Former Rutgers player Eric LeGrand, right, is greeted by head coach Kyle Flood during halftime of a game vs. Eastern Michigan for LeGrand's jersey retirement ceremony at High Points Solutions Stadium.

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Three years after being paralyzed while making a tackle on a kick return, former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand has earned his college degree. The former Scarlet Knights defensive tackle announced the accomplishment Wednesday morning on Twitter:

Thank you for the congratulations on finishing my degree at Rutgers. Definitely has been a journey since I got hurt but I did it #noexcuses

Initially injured on Oct. 16, 2010, during a game against Army at MetLife Stadium, LeGrand went on to sign a symbolic contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who were, at the time, coached by former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano — and earlier this year, Rutgers retired LeGrand’s No. 52 during a ceremony at High Point Solutions Stadium.

LeGrand was 60 credits shy of graduation when he was hurt in 2010, and has been working toward completing his degree since January 2011. Now that he’s got a degree in hand, LeGrand — who has also written a book about his journey and started a foundation in honor of people with spinal cord injuries — says he hopes to pursue a career in broadcasting.

“Now it’s time for me to take the next step,” LeGrand told ScarletReport.com. “We’ll see where I can go with my broadcasting. What’s the next step for me now? Maybe I’ll be working with big networks. I’m going to keep working to get to the big time.”

Now, for some links:

• A North Carolina police officer who killed a former FAMU football player who was looking for help will not be charged in the player’s death.